http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash...l-93/119102340098440.xml&storylist=ornational The NMD is 9 kills for 12 attempts, with two of the misses due to malfunctions in surrogate systems not part of the NMD design. That's a 75-90% success rate. Who still thinks the NMD will never work? Why?
I have never sid threy couldn't work, but I have said they were a waste, and not necessary. Any Nukes which cross into our territories, will be carried in, NOT rocketed in
Threat A necessitates Defense A Threat B necessitates Defense B NK and Iran and others are all developing ICBMs that, eventually, can reach the US. Assuming that deterrence will work against these countries is rather imprudent.
The new missile defense system shot down 1 target which was sent from Alaska at a predetermined time.Would it work if 50 missiles rained down from all directions without prior knowledge of their arrival other than conventional methods?
Given the test results and operating paramteters of the NMD - why wouldn't it? Once fully deployed, its designed to shoot down up to 50 missiles.
Because... as with all "great defenses" those who want to usurp them will find a way. Only those ignorant of history believe that a missile defense system is anything other than a waste of money. Historical points: Great Wall - Mongols went around it Walls of the Bastille - Peasants burst through them Maginot Line - Germans went through it Atlantic Wall - Allies went through it Sony Piracy Encryption - Killed by a Sharpie Point is simple... not a single one of these tests has incorporated even the simplest of EXISTING evasive tactics (such as chaff)... and, once a missile defense is in place... there will be plenty of work for scientists to figure out ways to defeat it (hell, we're probably already developing ways around it as we develop it in case other countries try to build one). It will be obsolete within a year or two of its completion if not sooner. I am capable of scoring a perfect round of 18 on mini golf if every hole is a foot from the tee and there aren't any distractions or obstacles... that's pretty much what these tests are. They've made the tests easier and easier and easier every time in the hopes that someone will eventually buy that they have some great success rate. I'll be the first one to admit that hitting a missile with another missile is an incredible feat of technology... but these tests so completely ignore reality that they can hardly be called "proof" of anything other than a lot of money down the drain.